Udet U 7 Kolibri

The Udet U 7 Kolibri was a light sport monoplane built by the German manufacturer Udet‑Flugzeugbau in the early 1930s. Named after the hummingbird for its nimble handling, the Kolibri first flew in 1932 under the direction of Ernst Udet, the former World War I ace who had founded the company to produce affordable aircraft for private pilots and flying clubs. Powered by a modest 40‑horsepower Haenel air‑cooled inline engine, the single‑seat, high‑wing design featured a wooden frame covered with fabric, a fixed tail‑wheel undercarriage, and a fully enclosed cockpit that was unusual for aircraft of its class. Its lightweight construction and low stall speed made it popular for aerobatic training and short‑field operations, and several units were supplied to German aeroclubs as part of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium’s effort to broaden civil aviation. Although only a handful were built before Udet‑Flugzeugbau ceased production in 1934, the U 7 Kolibri demonstrated the potential of inexpensive, high‑performance sport planes and influenced later designs such as the Bücker Jungmann. Its legacy endures as a symbol of interwar German innovation and the transition from wartime to civilian aviation.

Udet-Flugzeugbau

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification